Why Mike Ashley must do everything in his power to bring Loic Remy back to Newcastle United

Loic Remy applauds the Newcastle fans after the final game of last season (Picture: Getty Images)

Newcastle United should move quickly to sign in-limbo Loic Remy after the former Toon star’s move to Liverpool collapsed.

The in-demand striker has been courted by a host of Premier League clubs this summer but looked to be on his way to Anfield.

The French forward even boarded a plane and flew to Boston to sign up for Liverpool – only to see the deal fail following a medical.

It was widely reported the move to Anfield was all but completed but the deal has been dashed at the 11th hour.

There’s no doubt the Toon would have to pay way more than the bargain £8 million deal Queens Park Rangers agreed with Liverpool, but the United hierarchy should be pull out all the stops to get last season’s top scorer back on Tyneside.

Remy’s list of potential suitors is shrinking, Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger has said he is satisfied with his attacking options at The Emirates, and the longer the mercurial French striker is available the greater the chances he could end up back in a black and white shirt next season where he enjoyed so much success.

United have already signed skilful Spanish starlet Ayoze Perez and former Monaco man Emmanuel Riviere up front this window, but neither has any Premier League experience and the Toon are still light in attack after allowing Shola Ameobi to leave last season.

Re-signing Remy would be the kind of landmark player the Geordie faithful used to see under former chairman Sir John Hall and Freddie Shepherd.

The France international was a revelation on Tyneside last season and scored 14 goals in very difficult circumstances. Remy appeared to enjoy his time with the club and could shoot his way into Toon history if he signed on for next season.

Indeed, with Remy in the side, Newcastle were a different proposition last term. The whole team appeared more sure footed and assertive.

He was a natural leader, the Toon’s equivalent to Luis Suarez, Wayne Rooney or Gareth Bale and enabled him to bring out the best in his Magpies colleagues merely by his presence on the pitch alone.

Remy is the kind of player who can strike fear into the opposition just by seeing his name on the team sheet which has been missing on Tyneside since the great Alan Shearer retired.

I would love it if Newcastle continued their summer transfer spree by splashing the cash on the talented forward.